Fil-Am empowerment confab opens in San Diego

• Youth-adult partnership leads gathering

• Fil-Am White House officials to speak

SAN DIEGO, California – Seventeen years after its founding, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) opened its biennial empowerment conference August 7 with a youth leadership training institute at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, where the three-day gathering will be held until August 10.

Following the conference theme, “We Break the Dawn: Master Planning the Future,” the pre-conference session “Empowering Youth Through Collaboration” (EPYC) is a networking event and opportunity for sharing best practices in student organizing.

Through break out sessions, panel discussions and crisis simulations, “We envision a community whose youth organizations effectively harness their incredible potential to make an impact in the community,” says Leezel Ramos, conference co-chair. “

NaFFAA National Chairman Ed Navarra says the conference is an intergenerational effort of NaFFAA’s seasoned advocates and “the young folks” to bring about change.

Power speakers

Notable speakers will be led by White House Senior Adviser Jason Tengco, Commissioner Billy Dec of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Major General Antonio Taguba (Ret), and San Diego’s new Honorary Consul General Audie de Castro.

The Opening Ceremony on Friday, August 8, will open with a “Parade of NaFFAA Banners” followed by welcome remarks by the co-chairs of the planning committee, Dr. Aurora S. Cudal and Leezel Ramos, reflecting the youth-adult partnership in planning the conference.

The office of Mayor Kevin Faulconer will present a proclamation and County Board of Supervisor Dave Roberts will welcome the delegates. Liberty Zabala, a multimedia journalist for NBC, has been invited to host.

California Assembly member Rob Bonta will come from Sacramento to participate in the after luncheon panel discussion on community empowerment.

Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer winning journalist, filmmaker and the founder of Define America will deliver the closing keynote speech for the day.

In the evening, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) will sponsor the screening of a film documentary, “Delano Manongs.” Columnist Rodel Rodis, one of the founders of NaFFAA, will give a historical background of the film.

Saturday, August 9, will begin with a General Membership Meeting presided by National Chair. Vital issues affecting the organization will be ironed out, prior to the election of a new set of national officers, which will occur late in the afternoon.

Gen. Taguba, will “rally the troops” to support the Filipino American World War II Soldiers Recognition Project. Launched in June as a national campaign, the initiative seeks a Gold Medal Award and a congressional proclamation recognizing the services of Filipino World War II veterans.

Other speakers for the day include Commissioner Billy Dec, who is also a successful businessman from Chicago and Butch Meily, executive director of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation. JT Mallonga, president of the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) and NaFFAA National Vice CHair will facilitate the discussion.

The late Alex Esclamado, co-founder and first National Chair of NaFFAA, will be honored during the Gala and Awards Night.

Community Service Award

For the first time, NaFFAA will confer the Alex Esclamado Award for Excellence in Community Service to four organizations: Council for Filipino American Organizations of Central Florida; Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas; West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service, Inc; and Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro).

A five-minute video about “The Life and Times of Alex Esclamado” will be shown prior to the awarding ceremonies. Loida Nicolas Lewis, former NaFFAA National Chair, will lead the Awards Ceremony. She will also induct the newly elected NaFFAA officers for 2015-2016.

Guest performers from Michigan will present a “Beauty Walk” followed by the presentation of a renowned Filipino folk dance, “Pantomina.” Entertainment will be provided by PASACAT and the famous musical duo, Chris and Celeste. The Harmony Band, conducted by Cesar Magpuri will provide the music with Singer Armi Guzman and Flutist Bob Shroder, conductor of the FilAm Symphony Orchestra, as special guest performers.

Among the conference sponsores re the United Domestic Workers and APALA, Wells Fargo Bank, Reginald Lewis Foundation, Megaworld, GMA, AT&T, Ayalaland, American General Life and Accident Insurance (AGLA), PLDT US Mobility, SMART, National City Times and the Filipino Press.”